A 2016 Surprise? Jeb Bush Thinking About the Race

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks at a conference on exchange-traded funds in Florida Jan. 29.

Associated Press

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush fueled speculation that he will run for president in 2016, telling reporters Wednesday that he is still undecided about a run and would decide later in the year.

“I’m going to think about it later,” Mr. Bush, a Republican, said during a visit to a charter school.

“I don’t wake up each day saying, ‘What am I going to do today to make this decision?’ I’m deferring the decision to the right time, which is later this year,” he said.

He added that the decision would be based on whether he can “do it joyfully,” adding: “We need to have candidates lift our spirits. It’s a pretty pessimistic country right now.” He also said he would consider whether a campaign would be right for his family.

At least one prominent Republican has urged Mr. Bush not to run: His mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush. In an interview with C-SPAN released earlier this month, Mrs. Bush said she hopes her son doesn’t run.

“If we can’t find more than two or three families to run for high office, that’s silly,” she said. “I think that the Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes — there are just more families than that.”

Mr. Bush responded to his mother’s comments Wednesday, telling CBS, “She promised me she wouldn’t keep saying this. But she is 89 years old, and if you have elderly parents or grandparents—you know they speak their mind.”

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